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Article published March 31, 2013

Cranberry native runs for PSU post

STATE COLLEGE — A Cranberry Township native and Seneca Valley High School Class of 1997 alumni is running for a trustee seat at Penn State University. Patrick Howley, who lives in Baltimore, is one of 49 candidates up for three open seats. Alumni voting begins on April 10 and closes on May 2. Alumni trustees are elected, three each year for three-year terms. “‘Grow old along with me — the best is yet to be’ sits atop the 1915 class gift, the sundial, on Old Main lawn. This quote will forever remind me of the wonderful years I spent at Penn State, as well as the promising years ahead of me as an alumnus,” said Howley, pointing to the quote by Robert Browning that first popped into his head when he decided to run for the trustees. Howley said it’s time to focus on the future at Penn State, and here’s how he plans on doing that: n Put the focus back on the students and alumni n Represent a growing number of young alumni n Give the board a perspective from someone paying student loans to put more focus on student aid and lowering tuition costs. The 32-member board contains presidents, CEOs and other leaders of industries, which Howley acknowledges is beneficial. But, the board also reflects a lack of representation. With more than 500,000 alumni and several thousands of ‘millennial’ alumni entering the work force each year, Howley said it is clear that the board of trustees needs representation from this demographic. “There is too much focus around the board on the past and the decisions that were made in haste during the troubling time,” said Howley in his position statement. “It’s time to get back to focusing on Penn State’s future and the future of its students and alumni.” Howley earned a B.S. in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management from Penn State last year. After graduating, he was hired by Marriott International in Baltimore, where he is a manager. He began at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, where he remained for two years before transferring to University Park in 2009. After transferring to University Park, he became involved in the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON).